This Day In Wrestling History- May 18th

2002 – WWF aired the final episode of their Saturday evening “Excess” series on the TNN, making room for WWF Confidential

2005 – TNA officially suspended Jeff Hardy. TNA announced at the very last minute of their pre-game show for Hard Justice several days earlier that Sean Waltman would be replacing Jeff Hardy on the PPV. They waited until the last second to announce it, hoping Hardy would make it from North Carolina to Florida. Hardy did arrive after the PPV and was at the hotel where the wrestlers stay but arrived so late TNA needed to substitute Sean Waltman into a match he had been advertised for against Raven. Hard Justice wasn’t been the first time that Hardy was late (or an outright no-show) at TNA events, although he had been on his best behavior in recent months

2007 – World Wrestling Entertainment released developmental talent Angel Williams (who would go on to stardom as TNA Knockout Angelina Love), ECW Diva Ariel (Shelly Martinez), long tenured undercard star Scotty Too Hotty, & former Spirit Squad member “Mitch” (real name Nick Mitchell) from their contracts. In the case of Ariel, she was released after a backstage argument with WWE star Batista over his relationship with WWE Diva Melina. Martinez would later term it as “standing up for someone” and politically, ended up iced over the situation

Events

In 1979, NWA Night of Champions was a 1-off event held in Knoxville, Tennessee:

Also, today would have been the birthday of 2-time All Japan Tag Team Champion Gary Albright (51), & one-time WWF Tag Team Champion Moondog King (65)

In Memoriam

On this day in 2002, the wrestling world lost 2-time WWF European, Tag Team and Hardcore Champion ‘The British Bulldog’ Davey Boy Smith at the age of 39. Smith debuted in his native England aged just 15, competing on the famed ‘World of Sport’ television show, where he wrestled the far more experienced Bernie Wright to a time-limit draw at one fall each. He also competed against or alongside Big Daddy, Dave ‘Fit’ Finlay and Blackjack Mulligan before moving to Canada at the behest of Stu Hart. During his time at Stampede, he also made his first tour of Japan, where he and Tom ‘Dynamite Kid’ Billington teamed as ‘The British Bulldogs’ for the first time in 1984. Later that year, the pair were signed by the WWF, where they would become one of the top tag teams in an initial 4-year run. In 1988, he left the promotion following an incident between Billington & Jacques Rougeau, following which they returned to Stampede and All Japan. The pair had a falling out in 1990, and Smith returned to the WWF alone. It was during this run where Smith hit the peak of his popularity, culminating in an Intercontinental Title victory over Bret Hart at Summerslam 92, though he would be released from the company barely 6 months later after it was revealed that he (as well as The Ultimate Warrior) were receiving shipments of steroids. Brief runs in WCW (from where he was released after yet another behind-the-scenes incident) and the UK preceded another WWF return. This run was somewhat less memorable, but did include Tag Team and European Title reigns before he left the promotion again following the Montreal Screwjob. A second WCW run ended after he was released while recovering from a serious back injury suffered after landing on a trap door built into the ring. His final major run was with the WWF in 1999-2000, when he was used primarily as a midcard talent. He was admitted to rehab by Vince McMahon in 2000 after developing an addiction to painkillers but was released from the company during the treatment process amid rumors of a relapse. He had been training for a return to the ring when he suffered a heart attack while on holiday with his girlfriend in Canada. His autopsy revealed that steroid use may have played a part in his death, however, the only clear results were that stress, serious injury, & drugs had taken their toll

Also on this day in 2002, Erich Kulas, whose 1 match stint in ECW as Mass Transit led to one of the most infamous moments in recent wrestling history, passed away at his home in Cranston, RI, on 5/14 due to complications stemming from a recent gastro-bypass surgery. He was only 22 years old. In 1996, Kulas, when he was 17, worked a tag match for ECW in Revere, MA, subbing for Axl Rotten and teaming with D-Von Dudley vs. the Gangstas. New Jack destroyed Kulas, billed as “Mass Transit”, during the match, including cutting him open with an Xacto knife. Anyone who saw the tape of the match will not soon forget the sight of Kulas pouring blood out of his forehead. Charges of criminal assault were brought against Jack. He was found not guilty. Kulas later sued Jack & ECW (among others), claiming permanent disfigurement and emotional distress. That suit was also dismissed. The aftermath of the incident saw ECW’s initial PPV canceled for a short time. Kulas had not disclosed his age to ECW when he entered the ring

4 Responses

The match between Flair & Fuller could not have been for the NWA World title as Flair would not become World Champion until September 1981. In fact, Harley Race was the NWA World Champion from February 1977 until August 1979